Harford Jones collection
Finding aid prepared by Vanessa Wilkie.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Harford Jones collection
Dates: 1783-1814
Collection Number: mssHJ
1-88
Creator OR Collector:
Jones, Harford, Sir,
1764-1847
Extent:
92 items
Repository: The Huntington Library,
Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts
Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: Collection chiefly consists of
correspondence between Sir Harford Jones (1764-1847), Henry Dundas, first Viscount Melville (1742-1811), and
Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville (1771-1851). The collection spans Jones's time in the
Persian court.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
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Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Harford Jones collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
The collection was purchased by the Library Collectors' Council from Maggs Bros.
of London, January 2014.
Biographical Note
Sir Harford Jones Brydges, first baronet (1764-1847), diplomat and author, was born
on January 12, 1764. On February 16, 1796 he married Sarah, eldest daughter of Sir
Henry Gott of Newland Park, Buckinghamshire; they had one son and two daughters. In
commemoration of his descent, through is material grandmother, from the family of
Brydges of Old Colwall, Herefordshire, he assumed, by royal signature, dated May 4,
1826, the additional name of Brydges. Early in life Jones entered the services of
the East India Company, working as assistant and factor at Basrah, 1783-1794, and
its president in Baghdad, 1798-1806. He acquired great proficiency in oriental
languages, and with the assistance of Robert Dundas's patronage he was appointed
envoy-extraordinary and minister-plenipotentiary to the court of Persia, where he
remained from 1807-1811. He was attached to the first Persian mission lead by Sir
John Malcolm (1801). He remained in Tehran from 1809 to 1810, in the service of the
Dundases. During this time his main achievement was the Preliminary Treaty of 1809
that effectively barred France from the route to India. In 1810, his authority in
Tehran was crucially undermined by the East India Company, through Lord Minto's
appointment of Sir John Malcolm as envoy while Jones represented the crown. Snubbed
by the Persians, he reacted furiously. Eventually Sir Gore Ouseley was appointed as
London's new ambassador to the Shah and on hearing the news Malcolm decided to leave
Persia for India, and Jones was recalled. In 1832 he was sworn of the privy council,
and in 1841 was appointed deputy lieutenant of the county of Herford. He died at his
seat at Boultibrook, near Presteigne, on March 17, 1847.
Henry Dundas, first Viscount Melville (1742-1811), politician, was born on April 28,
1742 in Edinburghshire, Scotland. He married Elizabeth (1751-1843), coheir of David
Rannie, merchant and shipbuilder. They had four children. In May 1775, Dundas became
lord advocate, and in 1782 he became treasurer of the navy. He was elected to
Parliament for Scotland in 1790. Dundas was close political ally of William Pitt,
the Younger. He became home secretary in 1791,President of the Board of Control in
1793, and secretary of state for war in July 1794. In 1805, Dundas was impeached
after a commission of inquiry uncovered accounting transgressions in naval records.
Dundas returned to Scotland. He died on May 27, 1811 in Edinburgh.
Robert Saunders Dundas, second Viscount Melville (1771-1851), politician was born in
Edinburgh on March 14, 1742, the only son of Henry Dundas and his wife Elizabeth.
Robert served as his father's private secretary from 1794, through thinking it also
useful for him to be in parliament: he was brought in as MP for Hastings in 1794,
Rye in 1796, and Midlothian in 1801. He married and heiress, Anne Saunders on August
29, 1796. The couple had four sons and two daughters. In 1807, after his father's
"retirement", he became President of the Board of Control for India. In 1811, he was
promoted firs lord of the Admiralty. In 1814, he was appointed a governor of the
Bank of Scotland, and he was elected chancellor of the University of St. Andrews,
and made a knight of the Thistle in 1821. He resigned his political offices in 1830,
over debates about the Reform Act, never to hold office again. He died on June 10,
1851 at Melville Castle.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically. It is housed in two boxes.
Scope and Content
This diplomatic archive spans Harford Jones's time at the Persian court; it consists
of correspondence and documents, most of which are written by Jones. The bulk of the
collection is comprised of 71 letters dating from September 1799 to January 1814,
all written to, or enclosures intended for, firstly Henry Dundas first Viscount
Melville and secondly Robert Dundas second Viscount Melville.
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Dundas, Henry,
1741-1811
Jones, Harford, Sir,
1764-1847
Malcolm, John,
1769-1833
Melville, Robert
Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851
Minto, Gilbert Eliot,
Earl of, 1751-1814
Perceval, Spencer,
1762-1812
Wellesley, Richard
Wellesley, Marquess, 1760-1842
Corporate Names
East India
Company
Subjects
Diplomats -- Correspondence
Geographic Areas
Great Britain -- Foreign
Relations -- Iran
Iran -- Foreign
Relations -- Great Britain
Great Britain -- Foreign
Relations -- Middle East
Middle East -- Foreign
Relations -- Great Britain
Genre
Documents -- 18th century
Documents -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- 18th
century
Letters (correspondence) -- 19th
century
HJ 1
Fullarton, Colonel (William), 1754-1808. Letter to Henry Dundas,
1742-1811
(1783, Dec. 20)
HJ 2
Unknown author. Letter to Henry Dundas, 1742-1811
(1785, Oct. 25)
HJ 3
Unknown author. Financial accounts & estimates
(1786-1810)
7 items. Note: endorsement dated 25 May 1810 on each item.
HJ 4
Taylor, Robert. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1791, Dec. 27)
HJ 5
Taylor, Robert. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1792, Feb. 6)
HJ 6
[(Chirry, G.F.)] "Copy of the preliminary articles agreed upon
and exchanged"
(1792, Feb. 22)
HJ 7
Taylor, Robert. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1792, Mar. 13)
HJ 8
Unknown author. "The advice in the Revenue Department of the
Madras government...."
[after 1794, May]
HJ 9
Inglis, Hugh, - 1820. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1797, Aug. 20)
HJ 10
Wilks, Mark, 1760? - 1831. Letter to Robert Hobart, Earl of
Buckinghamshire, 1760 - 1816
(1799, Jan. 17)
HJ 11
Unknown author. "Extract of letters...relative to the action of
Genl. Stuart with Tippoo's army...."
(1799, Mar. 7 & 13)
Calicut & Camp near Sedapore.
HJ 12
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
[1799?, Sep. 8 ?]
HJ 13
[Dundas, Henry, 1742 - 1811]. Letter to Sir Harford Jones,
1764-1847
(1799, Dec. 7)
HJ 14
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764 - 1847. Letter to Henry Dunas,
1742-1811
(1800, Dec. 14)
HJ 15
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1800, Dec. 25)
HJ 16
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1801, Jan 5)
HJ 17
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1801, Jan 22)
HJ 18
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764- 1847. Bulletin
(1801, Feb. 26)
HJ 19
[Aga Mohammed Ally]?. Letter to Sir Harford Jones, 1764-1847
(1801, Apr. 23)
HJ 20
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. "Substance of informatiion
obtained from an Armenian merchant...."
(1801, May 16)
HJ 21
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1801, May 17)
HJ 22
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1801, May 17)
HJ 23
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1801, Sep. 15)
HJ 24
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1801, Sep. 16)
HJ 25
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1647. Letter To Fath Ali Shah Qajar,
Shah of Iran, - 1834
(1801, Dec. 17)
HJ 26
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1801, Dec. 17)
HJ 27
Qajar, Fath Ali Shah, Shah of Iran, - 1834. Firmaun
(proclamation)
[1801, Dec. 17]
HJ 28
Qajar, Fath Ali Shah, Shah of Iran, - 1834. Firmaun
(proclamation)
[1801, Dec. 17]
HJ 29
Qajar, Fath Ali Shah, Shah of Iran, - 1834. Firmaun
(proclamation)
[1801, Dec. 17]
HJ 30
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1801, Dec. 18)
HJ 31
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Bulletin
(1801)
HJ 32
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Richard Wellesley,
Marquess Wellesley, 1760- 1842
(1802, May 5)
HJ 33
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1803, May 15)
HJ 34
Baird, David, Sir, 1757-1829. Letter to Henry Dunas, 1742-1811
(1803, Nov. 12-13)
HJ 35
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. [Extracts of reports re:
continuing unrest in Afghanistan....]
(1804, Sep. 12)
HJ 36
Clancarty, Richard Le Pou, French Earl of, 1803-1872. Letter to
Robert Stewart, Viscount of Castlereagh, 1769-1822
(1805, Nov. 7)
HJ 37
Unknown. "Draft of Instructions for Sir Harford Jones on his
Mission to Persia...."
(1807, Mar.)
HJ 38
Vaughn, Charles Richard, 1774-1849. Memorial to the Chairman of
the East India Company
(1807, Aug 29)
HJ 39
Vaughn, Charles, Richard, 1774-1849. Letter to Spencer Perceval,
1762-1812
(1807, Aug. 29)
HJ 40
Melville, Robert Saunders, Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851. Letter
to Spencer Perceval, 1762-1812
(1807, Sep. 1)
HJ 41
Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851. Letter to
George Tierney, 1761-1830
(1807, Sep. 3)
HJ 42
Tierney, George, 1761-1830. Letter to Robert Saunders Dundas,
Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1807, Sep. 5)
HJ 43
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dundas,
1742-1811
(1807, Sep. 28)
HJ 44
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Henry Dundas,
1742-1811
(1808, Jan. 7)
HJ 45
[Minto, Elbert Elliot, Earl of, 1751-1814]. Letter to Sir
Harford Jones, 1764-1847
(1808, May 17)
HJ 46
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Gilbert Elliot, Earl
of Minto, 1751-1814
(1808, June 5)
HJ 47
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Gilbert Elliot, Earl
of Minto, 1751-1814
(1808, June 9)
HJ 48
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1808, June 25)
HJ 49
Unknown author. "Extract of the Governor General's Instructions
to Br. General Malcolm..."
(1808, Aug. 12)
HJ 50
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to [Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851]
(1808, Sep. 12)
HJ 51
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1808, Dec. 15)
HJ 52
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1808, Dec. 16)
HJ 53
East India Company. Letter to Henry Dundas, 1742-1811
(1809, Feb. 10)
HJ 54
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, Mar. 16)
HJ 55
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, Mar. 31)
HJ 56
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, Apr. 4)
HJ 57
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to david R. (David
Richard) Morier, 1784-1877
(1809, Apr. 14)
HJ 58
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Sir Robert Adair,
1763-1855
(1809, Apr. 15)
HJ 59
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, May 4)
HJ 60
Sheffea, ----- , Mirza, active 1809. Letter to John Malcolm,
1769-1833
(1809, May 4)
HJ 61
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, May 9)
HJ 62
East India Company. Letter to Henry Dundas, 1742-1811
(1809, July 21)
HJ 63
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, Nov. 9)
HJ 64
Sheffea, ----- , Mirza, active 1809. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1809, Dec. 5)
HJ 65
Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851.
[Memorandum]
[approx. 1809]
HJ 66
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1810, Feb 1.)
HJ 67
Abul Hassan Khan, 1776-1845 or 1846. Letter to [Sir Harford
Jones, 1764-1847]
(1810, Feb. 18)
HJ 68
Dundas, Henry, 1741-1811. Letter to Abur Hassan Khan, 1776-1845
or 1846
(1810, Feb. 18)
HJ 69
Dundas, Henry, 1741-1811. Letter to Abur Hassan Khan, 1776-1845
or 1846
(1810, Feb. 24)
HJ 70
Dundas, Henry, 1741-1811. Letter to Abur Hassan Khan, 1776-1845
or 1846
(1810, Feb. 24)
HJ 71
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1810, Mar. 26)
HJ 72
Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851. Letter to
Abur Hassan Khan, 1776-1845 or 1846 & Mizra Sheffea, active 1809
(1810, Apr. 2)
HJ 73
Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851. Letter to
Abur Hassan Khan, 1776-1845 or 1846 & Mizra Sheffea, active 1809
(1810, June 29)
HJ 74
East India Company. Letter to Fath Ali Shah Qajar, Shah of Iran,
- 1834
(1810, June)
HJ 75
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1810, July 14)
HJ 76
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1810, Sep. 12)
HJ 77
Culling Smith, Charles, approx. 1775-1853. Letter to "Sir"
(1810, Sep. 22)
HJ 78
Abul Hassan Khan, 1776-1845 or 1846. Letter to Sir Harford
Jones, 1764-1847
(1811, Jan. 25)
HJ 79
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1812, June 13)
HJ 80
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1812, June 30)
HJ 81
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to [Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851]
(1812, June)
HJ 82
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1812, [June])
HJ 83
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1812, July 21)
HJ 84
Baird, David, Sir, 1757-1829). Letter to Robert Saunders Dundas,
Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1812, Aug. 20)
HJ 85
Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851. Letter to
Sir David Baird, 1757-1829
(1812, Aug. 29)
HJ 86
Jones, Harford, Sir, 1764-1847. Letter to Robert Saunders
Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1814, Jan. 21)
Grenville St. Brunswick Square
HJ 87
Hobart, Robert, Earl of Buckinghamshire, 1760-1816. Letter to
Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount Melville, 1771-1851
(1814, Nov. 28)
HJ 88
[Author unknown]. [Unidentified Persian document]
(19th century)
